‘Trick the Devil’ brings blues legend to life

Long Center hosts ACC-ProArts production

The ACC Drama Department and ProArts Collective have produced a compelling drama about the last days of blues artist Robert Johnson. The play is written by Bill Harris and directed by Marcus McQuirter.

“Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil” opens Wednesday, April 17, in the Long Center of Performing Arts’ Rollins Studio Theatre. The show runs through April 27, with shows at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $10. Tickets are on sale at the Long Center website.

“Trick the Devil” alludes to the myth surrounding Johnson, a young man living on a plantation in rural Mississippi. Branded with a desire to become a blues musician, Johnson was instructed to take his guitar to a crossroads near Dockery’s plantation at midnight. There, he met the devil, who took Johnson’s guitar, tuned it to play anything he wanted, and handed it back.

In exchange for his everlasting soul, Johnson was able to create the greatest blues anyone had ever heard. In less than a year’s time, he was king of the Delta blues singers and is considered by some to be the grandfather of rock ’n’ roll.

Johnson’s work influenced popular music’s most famous guitarists and songwriters, including Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers Band, the Rolling Stones, the Band, Neil Young, Warren Zevon, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. Eric Clapton called Johnson “the most important blues musician who ever lived.”

“Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil” is the first self-produced production in the Rollins Studio Theater at the newly reopened Long Center for the Performing Arts. It is the second collaboration between ACC and ProArts Collective. Last year they produced the critically acclaimed “Funnyhouse of a Negro.”

Tammie Ward, Long Center director of programming, was eager to host the ACC-ProArts Collective annual show.

“I heard such wonderful things about their first production; we were excited to know they wanted to expand into the Rollins,” Ward says. “Their collaboration fits perfectly with the Long Center’s mission.”

Lisa Byrd, executive director of ProArts Collective, says collaborations with institutions such as ACC and St. Edward’s University allow a small organization with very limited resources to have a greater impact on Austin’s cultural life.

ACC Drama Professor and Director Marcus McQuirter agrees.

“The collaboration is a great opportunity for Pro-Arts and ACC to explore each other’s worlds,” McQuirter says. “It allows us to take community college students into a place like the Long Center, a very nice venue, and get them experience there. And Pro-Arts taps into the college community – gives them a new venue, a new audience for sharing what they do.”

The cast includes Austin favorite Billy Harden as Stokes the blind pianist. Robert Johnson is played by the multitalented Aaron Alexander. Ticket proceeds benefit the Boyd Vance Scholarship Fund for African-American drama and dance students.

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